British food ranked the healthiest in major global survey

A global survey has found that when it comes to having the healthiest packaged foods and drinks, the UK tops the charts, with the USA in 2nd place and Australia coming in at 3rd.

This survey was conducted by George Institute for Global Health which analysed more than 400,000 food and drink products from 12 countries and territories around the world.

It was found that the UK had the highest average rating, followed by the US and Australia. On the other hand, India got the lowest rating followed by China with Chile coming third from bottom.

Lead author Dr Elizabeth Dunford said the results were concerning because packaged foods and drinks are driving a double burden of diet-related diseases in many low- and middle-income countries.

"Globally we're all eating more and more processed foods and that's a concern because our supermarkets shelves are full of products that are high in bad fats, sugar and salt and are potentially making us sick. Our results show that some countries are doing a much better job than others. Unfortunately it's the poorer nations that are least able to address the adverse health consequences that have the unhealthiest foods."

Co-author Professor Bruce Neal, Acting Executive Director of The George Institute, Australia said with packaged foods progressively dominating the world's food supply there was real cause for concern.

"Billions of people are now exposed to very unhealthy foods on a daily basis. The obesity crisis is just the first ripple of a tsunami of dietary ill health that is coming for us. We have to find a way that the food industry can profit from selling rational quantities of quality food, rather than deluging us with unhealthy junk. There are few greater priorities for human health.''

Sex-Boosting Foods

The following are some of the sex-boosting foods:

Asparagus

Asparagus is rich in folate, a B vitamin that helps increase the production of histamine and the correct levels of histamine are important for a healthy sex drive in both men and women.

Avocado

Avocado is rich in folic acid for increased energy production, along with healthy fats to improve mood and sense of well-being.

Blueberries

Blueberries give the body a greater ability to release dopamine, an energizing, stimulatory neurotransmitter. They also protect us from the loss of dopamine cells normally seen with aging. By increasing brain energy production and maintaining youthful brain function, dopamine exerts an extremely important antiaging effect. 

Since dopamine levels decrease with age, blueberries become even more important as we get older.

Cold-Water Fish

Salmon, sardines, herring, anchovies, and other cold-water fish are high in omega-3 fats. Omega-3s are critical to the brain and nervous system. They also improve our mood, increase our sense of well--being, fight depression, give us glowing, radiant skin and improve our memory and brainpower.

Chocolate

Dark chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a chemical believed to produce the feeling of being in love. In fact, a study published in "The Journal of Sexual Medicine" found that women who enjoyed a piece of chocolate every day had a more active sex life than those who did not.

Watermelon

Watermelon is rich in L-citrulline, an amino acid that helps improve blood flow. L-citrulline increases blood flow to the sexual organs but without any negative side effects. L-citrulline supports the body in optimizing blood flow when it converts to L-arginine and then to nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is involved in vasodilation (dilation of the blood vessels). And low levels of nitric oxide are associated with mental and physical fatigue and sexual dysfunction.

Garlic

Garlic contains allicin, a compound thought to increase blood flow to the sexual organs. Some experts believe that garlic is a very powerful aphrodisiac. But it is necessary to eat garlic daily for about a month to reap its remarkable benefits.

Oysters

Oysters are extremely rich in zinc, which is essential for testosterone production and maintenance of healthy sperm. And even though women have much less testosterone than men, it also plays a key part in the female libido. 

Oysters also boost dopamine, as mentioned above, it is a hormone that increases libido in both men and women.

Peanuts

Peanuts are a rich natural source of L-argininie. Studies show that the amino acid L-arginine is helpful for improving sexual function in men. L-arginine is used to make nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels. Preliminary studies have found that L-arginine may help with erectile dysfunction.

Pumpkin Seeds

Like oysters, pumpkin seeds are extremely rich in zinc and promote the health of the male prostate gland. When it comes to a woman's sex drive, one study found that pumpkin seeds are a great libido booster. 

In addition, pumpkin seeds are also rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids, which act as a precursor of prostaglandins - hormonelike substances important for sexual health.